12 Key Current Affairs and News Update 18th August 2015

12 Key Current Affairs & News Update 18th August 2015

1. Queen Elizabeth II set to become Britain’s longest-reigning Monarch

Queen Elizabeth – News Update 18th August

Queen Elizabeth II is set to become Britain’s longest-reigning Monarch in the history. On 10th September 2015, she will become the longest-reigning British head of state and the longest-reigning female monarch in history. She will surpass record held by her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, who reigned thousand-year-old institution of Britain for more than 63 years. It should be noted that, presently Queen Elizabeth II (88 years old) is world’s oldest living monarch. About Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II was born as Elizabeth Alexandra Mary on 21 April 1926. She acceded to the throne on 6 February 1952 at the age of 25 after her father, King George VI died. She was crowned as queen of Britain and other realms, including Canada and Australia on 2 June, 1953. Read More

2. Tamil Nadu tops in organ donation in India

Organ Donation – News Update 18th August

Tamil Nadu state has topped in organ donation in the country by harvesting organs of 683 persons and donating them to over 3000 beneficiaries. It was announced by State Health Minister C Vijaya Bhaskar after state observed Organ Donation Day on 13th August 2015. In Tamil Nadu, the overall organ transplantations included 144 heart transplants, 636 liver transplants, 1233 kidney, 69 lung transplants, 4 pancreas, 618 heart valves, 2 small bowels, 1,032 cornea, 22 skin and 2 blood vessels. Read More

3. China successfully tests power system for largest space rocket

China – News Update 18th August

China successfully tested the power system (engines) of its stated to be the largest space launch vehicle viz. Long March-5 carrier. In the test engines of the rocket were successfully fired on the ground. This power system will be used in China’s ambitious Chang’e-5 lunar mission of 2017. Key facts Long March-5 has the carrying capacity twice of the payload compared to other present carriers of China. It has payload capacity of 25 tonnes to low Earth orbits and 14 tonnes to geostationary transfer orbit. Thus, greatly increasing China’s ability to enter space with higher payload. Read More

4. Sachin Tendulkar to be Maharashtra’s Tiger ambassador

Maharashtra government has roped Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar as its new ambassador for the Tiger Conservation Project. His association will help state government to raise awareness about saving the tigers in the state. In this regard Mr. Tendulkar has accepted an offer which was forwarded by state Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar on July 29, 2015 on the eve of World Tiger Day. State government had forwarded this proposal to Mr. Tendulkar after Tiger Protection Foundation approved a proposal of his appointment along with superstar Amitabh Bachchan as ambassador to promote the Save Tiger campaign in July 2015. Read More

5. Food Grain Production declined by 4.66 per cent to 252.68 million tonnes

As per the fourth advance estimate released by Agriculture Ministry on 17 August, the estimated foodgrain production have declined by 4.66 per cent to 252.68 million tonnes (MT) in 2014-15 crop year due to poor monsoon and unseasonal rains. The estimate includes Wheat, rice, coarse cereals and pulses in the foodgrain basket. Key Facts for Foodgrain Production 2014-15: The estimated foodgrain production for 2014-15 has lower by 12.36 MT to 252.68 MT as against record production of 265.04 MT achieved in 2013-14. Read More

The Odisha government has set up a special entity State level Facilitation Cell (SLFC) to fast track approvals through hassle free Single Window Clearance for investment projects. To speed up the investment proposals SLFC has categorised companies in two broad categories — green and non-green. The companies under Green category are largely comprises of agri-based industries, cottage industries, food-processing, textiles, chemicals, building materials, and consumer goods. For the Green category projects SLFC will provide clearances within 15 days whereas, all other industrial projects placed under the non-green category would receive approvals within 30 days. Read More

7. After 25 Years, Kerala Ink MoU with Adani for development of Vizhinjam Port

Kerala government has signed a MoU with Gautam Adani-led Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) for building 7,525 crore rupees Vizhinjam seaport project near Kovalam beach. The MoU was signed by Kerala Principal Secretary (Ports) James Varghese and Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Ltd CEO Santosh Kumar Mahopatra on 17 August in the presence of state CM Oommen Chandy and Adani Ports Chairman Gautam Adani. The proposal for the project was first initiated 25 years ago in 1991 by late Congress Chief Minister K Karunakaran but did not materialise due to various reasons. Read More

8. Union Government appoints two private sector professionals to head BoB, Canara Bank

Union government has appointed two private sector banking professionals as Mangling Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer of Bank of Baroda (BoB) and Canara Bank. This is the first time that Union government has appointed the two candidates from the private sector to head the Public Sector Banks (PSBs). Appointed persons are P S jayakumar: MD and CEO of Bank of Baroda (BoB). Rakesh Sharma: MD and CEO of Canara Bank. Apart from these appointments, Union Government also appointed MD and CEO of other three PSBs who are serving government officials. Read More

9. Andy Murray wins Rogers Cup Masters Tournament 2015

Andy Murray of Great Britain has won Rogers Cup Masters Tournament 2015 also known as the Canada Masters. In the final match played at Montreal, Canada he defeated world number one Novak Djokovic of Serbia by 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 score. It was Murray’s overall 11th Masters Title and first victory against the world number 1 since Wimbledon final of 2013. Women’s single section: 18-year old Belinda Bencic of Switzerland won maiden Canadian Open Masters title in women’s single category. In the final match she defeated world number two Simona Halep by 7-6, 6-7, 3-0 score. It was Belinda’s overall second career title. Read More

10. Egypt approves stringent new counter-terrorism laws

Egypt has approved stringent new counter-terrorism laws to fight the menace of growing jihadist insurgency in the country. These laws were approved by Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi. The new laws propose Establishment of special courts to fast-track trials for suspected militants. Provides additional legal protection for Police and Military Officers involved in counter-terrorism operations. Impose stringent punishment of death penalty on terrorists found guilty of setting up or leading a terrorist group. Read More

11. Former Cabinet secretary Ajit Kumar Seth appointed as the Chairman of PESB

Former Cabinet secretary Ajit Kumar Seth has been appointed as the Chairman of the government’s head-hunter, Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) on 14 August 2015. As per the order issued by Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) Ajit Kumar will head PESB by replacing Atul Chaturvedi for period of three years or till he attains 65 years of age. He is an IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre of 1974-batch, whose extended tenure of four years as the Cabinet secretariat had ended on 13 June 2015. Two other IAS officers Gauri Kumar and Anshuman Das the former CMD of NALCO, have been appointed as members in PESB. Read More

12. HDFC to sell its 9 percent stake in HDFC life to JV partner Standard Life for Rs. 1700 Crore

HDFC has announced to sell its 9 per cent stake in HDFC Life Insurance to its British joint venture partner Standard Life for sum of 1,700 crore rupees. Prior this agreement HDFC had 70.65 per cent stake while Standard life had 26 per cent stakes which will be change to 61.65 per cent and 35 per cent respectively. This move was taken in line to increase the role of its foreign partner which followed the Centres approval to hike FDI to 49 per cent from 26 per cent in Insurance sector. As per the agreement HDFC will issue 17.5 crore shares at the rate of Rs. 95 per share to Standard life. Note: HDFC life in a Joint venture between HDFC and Standard life launched in 2000 and is the first private life insurer to be granted a licence to operate in India. Read More

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